Petee



Feb. 8, 1 27.

BEGHETT] ACTUATING'MECHANISM FOR AIR BLOWNMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 23, 1925 IN V EN TOR. p

Patented Feb. 8,1927. V

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JAQTUAIEIEGMEGHANISM FOR -mantisMusmAnJns snMEnrs Application filed December 23, 1825.

- This invention relates to air blown instruments, such as a harmonica or the like and i especially to a; mechanism whereby air may bedelivered to the several reeds to sound the "scale.

The object of the present invention 18 to provide a device of the character described which may be used as a noise maker during carnivals, New Years eve celebrations or like festive occasions and whlch may also serve asa substitute for a horn on an automobile.

The invention, briefly stat-ed, comprises a ,mounting for the instrument such as a harmonica'in which the instrument may be rigidly supported, a member slidably mounted With'relation to the air inlet openings of the harmonica and a bellows or like device connectedwith the'said member to deliver air I and thereby sound the instrument.

' One form'which the invention may assume 'isillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 in which- Fig.1 is a side elevation of a mounting supporting a harmonica and a mechanism wherebyair is delivered to actuate the har -monica. Fig. 2 1s a cross sectlon taken on line 22 of F1 1.

. Re erring to the drawings in detail and particularly Fig. 1, A indicates in general an angle bracket consisting of an upright porv tion 2 anda base portion 3. Clamped to the cated at 7 iv with the side sections 88 and the endsection 9 form an elongated surrounding guide which is freely slidable in a vertical direction, on the body of the harmonica. The front of the harmonica is provided with a plurality of air inletopenings such as indi- T cated at 12 and the sliding memberpasses over the openings when reciprocated.

Formed in the members 10 and 11 is a central opening 14: and extending through the 1 opening a flanged mouthpiece 15 which is held in frictional contact with the front face of the harmonica. Attached to the flanged mouth piece is a rubber bulb 16 and support ing the same is a cone-shaped helical spring 17 which is secured to the base 3 as at 18.

notes or tones of the scale.

SeriaI No. 77,226.

If the device is to be used as a noise maker, for instance, at a New Years eve celebration it may be placed directly upon a table or other support, and the person operating the instrument merely squeezes the bulb and pushes downwardly against the tension of the spring 17. The air is expelled when the bulb is pushed downwardly and squeezed and as the slide to which it is attached passes over the air inlet openings 12 it is obvious that the air will actuate the reeds inclicated at 19 and thereby sound the different When the bulb is released the spring forces it upwardly and the bulb is refilled by its own expanding action. A harmonica works both by suction and by air pressure and the notes are thu:-- sounded both during the expelling action of the bulb and during the suction action of the same.

If the device is to be used on an automobile it may he placed where it may be conveniently reached by the operator or driver.

While the invention has here been described and illustrated in conjunction with a harmonica it is obvious that it may be con-' nected with any other wind blown instrument if desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is- V 1. A combination with a musical instrument having a plurality of air admitting openings and cooperating mechanism whereby different tones'are produced of a member slidable with relation to said air inlet openings and air delivering means connected with said slide.

2. A device of the character described comprising a harmonica, a rigid support therefor, a member slidably mounted with relation to air openings formed in the harmonica and a rubber bulb connected with said member and adapted to deliver air to said openings as the member moves over the same.

3. A device of the character described comprising a harmonica, a support therefor maintaining it in a vertical position, a sliding member embracing the harmonica and forming a closure over the air inlet openings in the harmonica, a rubber bulb connected with said sliding member and adapted to be manually operated to deliver air to the openings and means for normally holding the sliding member at the upper end of the harmonica.

4. A device of the character described comprising a harmonica, a support therefor maintaining it in a vertical position, a sliding member embracing the harmonica and forming a closure over the air inlet openings in the harmonica, a rubber bulb connected with said sliding member and adapted to be manually operated to deliver air to the openings, a spring actuated means adapted to normally support the bulb and the sliding member in an elevated position on the harmonica.

PETER BEGI-IETTI. 

